Notes in the C♯ Altered scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | Tonic |
| ♭2 | D | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | E | Mediant |
| ♭4 | F | Subdominant |
| ♭5 | G | Dominant |
| ♭6 | A | Submediant |
| ♭7 | B | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C♯ D E F G A B.
C♯ Altered scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W – H – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
Chords in the C♯ Altered scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i° | C♯° | C♯ø7 |
| ii | Dm | Dm(maj7) |
| iii | Em | Em7 |
| IV+ | F+ | F7♯5 |
| V | G | G7 |
| VI | A | A7 |
| vii° | B° | Bø7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
How to practise the C♯ Altered scale
Learn it as a rotation of a scale you already know (lydian dominant is melodic minor starting on its 4th note, altered starts on its 7th) and play it over the matching chord with a drone on the root.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the C♯ Altered scale?
The notes of the C♯ Altered scale are C♯ D E F G A B.
What is the formula for the C♯ Altered scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W – H – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
What chords are in the C♯ Altered scale?
Built from the scale in triads: C♯°, Dm, Em, F+, G, A, B°.
More C♯ scales
C♯ Major, C♯ Natural Minor, C♯ Harmonic Minor, C♯ Melodic Minor, C♯ Dorian, C♯ Phrygian, C♯ Mixolydian, C♯ Locrian, C♯ Major Pentatonic, C♯ Minor Pentatonic, C♯ Blues, C♯ Dorian ♭2, C♯ Mixolydian ♭6, C♯ Locrian ♯2, C♯ Phrygian Dominant, C♯ Double Harmonic, C♯ Diminished (W–H), C♯ Bebop Dominant, C♯ Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.